LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, while inaugurating Nawaz Sharif Cardiology Centre in Murree, made several major announcements for the uplift of health infrastructure and tourism sectors in the region.
She announced the launch of cardiac surgeries and bypass operations at the centre, and also revealed plans for Murree’s first clean drinking water scheme, multi-billion-rupee upgradation plan of the historic Mall Road, establishment of PIA Park, Karshi Park and a Biodiversity Park at Bansra Gali. She also announced to launch a glass train/ART service between Rawalpindi and Murree soon along with the construction of a 100-bed hospital in Kotli Sattian, besides shuttle bus service between Samli Hospital and Nawaz Sharif Cardiology Centre.
She pledged to initiate various development and tourism projects in Kotli Sattian, besides the launch of an upcoming electric bus service in Murree.
Highlighting her personal emotional link with the hill station, she said, “Politics may sometimes seem difficult, but in reality, it is the name of serving people. Murree is our home, I grew up here. Just as Lahore is close to my heart, so is Murree. If my father Muhammad Nawaz Sharif owns a house in Lahore, his second house is in Murree.”
The CM said that after 1930, for the first time, work on upgradation of Samli Hospital was initiated under her leadership. She stated that Samli Hospital was in a dilapidated condition and there was no facility for heart patients in Murree or Galiyat. She added that patients had to travel two to three hours to Rawalpindi for getting medical treatment. She outlined that in case of cardiac diseases, time is crucial, therefore, after taking oath as Chief Minister, I pledged to build a cardiology hospital in Murree.
She expressed satisfaction over successful treatment of 5 patients in Nawaz Sharif Cardiology Centre, and appreciated Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, Sohaib Bherth, secretaries and Murree’s administration for completing this project in a record time. She revealed that the centre is equipped with doctors and trained medical staff along with an ample stock of cardiac medicines to ensure complete cardiac treatment for patients coming from Murree and Galiyat as they no longer need to travel to Rawalpindi for the purpose.
She informed the audience that former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has appreciated this public welfare project, and has directed that another cardiology centre should also be built inside Murree city. She disclosed that the land has been identified for the project, and the construction work will begin soon. She said that Murree residents would no longer need to leave their city for medical treatment. She added, “Murree was declared a district, but administrative offices are still functioning from Rawalpindi. The present government has handed over police, traffic control, health, education and tourism departments to the Murree administration, besides record road construction in just eight months.”
Maryam Nawaz Sharif highlighted that ‘Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics’ instead of Basic Health Units were established to reduce burden of patients in major hospitals. She said that Clinics-on-Wheels and Field Hospitals are serving people across Punjab, including Murree. She announced that under the leadership of Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, a special Tourism Force has been formed to boost tourism in Murree. She noted, “Millions of tourists will visit Murree in coming years. PML-N President Nawaz Sharif had already developed Murree Expressway and road networks. Today, PHA, WASA, and ‘Suthra’ Punjab teams are working diligently in Murree, making visitors from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa feel amazed by the city’s cleanliness and other facilities.”
She reiterated her commitment to fulfilling all promises made to the people of Punjab. She noted that major development projects in Murree have been completed by the incumbent government. A state-of-the-art hospital in Bhurban is also under construction. She said, “Murree was declared a tehsil by others but major development work has been carried out by Nawaz Sharif’s daughter.” She vowed to protect Murree’s natural beauty by demolishing illegal buildings and preventing land mafia from ruining the beauty of city. She announced that electric bus service in Murree would be free for students, women, senior citizens and special persons. She also pledged a safe Punjab for women, adding that if any crime is committed against women, Maryam Nawaz Sharif will not forgive anyone under any circumstance.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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